Snow-plow.



B. F. ER'WIN.

SNOW-PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1916.

1,243,926. Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTQR WITNESSES AAA/a,

ATTORNEY B. F. ERWIN.

SNOW PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED my 16. I916.

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEY I UNITED STATES PATENT onrion.

BENJAMIN r. nnwm, or rnmrnx, mssounr.

- SNOW-PLOW.

' this nature, wherein the plow structure proper'is adjustable, thus enabling the same to be used on rough and uneven surfaces and obviating the danger of breakage of the blades due to their contacting with stones and other structures on the roadway.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type in question that is extremely simple in construction,

strong and durable, and highly practical from both the standpoint of the manufacturer and the standpoint of the user; and

which, it is believed, may be manufactured at a minimum cost. I

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

Y Thesev objects are accomplished by such means as are shown in their preferred formin the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a view in top plan showing my improved snow plowing apparatus as in its preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan of the forward end of the device showing more clearly the relative position of the plow structure, proper;

Fig. 4: is a viewof the plow structure proper, which in the present embodiment consists of a plurality of radial plow blades; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section of the plow structure proper.

My invention, in its present'embodiment,

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application flied May 16, 1918. Serial No. 97,860.

tions passed through .the hubs of the supporting wheels 12 and 13,,respectively. The

platform 10 carries spaced brackets 14 upon its under face bearing against the sides of the axle 11 and which serve to prevent independent longitudinal movement of' the platform with respect to the axle. However, by reason of its construction, it is apparent that the platform may be tilted, so as to raise or lower the outer end thereof.

To the platform 10 is ailixed a pair of spaced bearing members 15 and 16 in which is journaled a driven shaft 17, the latter having one end projecting beyond the forward edge of the platform and its rear end pro ecting beyond the rear edge of the platform. Beyond the forward edge of the platform, the shaft 17 carries a drum 18,

each brace being connected toone of the blades 19, and the other end of each brace being suitably connected to the respective one of the plates 20. By this arrangement, it will be ,noted that the blades will beheld in a rigid position at all times with respect to the drum 18 and the plates 20, thus insuring the longevity of the device.

The inner one of the plates 20 carries .a bevel gear 23, which, as shown. in Fig. 1, meshes with a bevel gear 24: carried upon the stub-shaft 25. The stub-shaft 25 is journaled through spaced bearing members 26 that are carried on the platform 10, and also carries a pulley 27 which may be driven from a source of power 28 by means'of a belt 29. Consequently it will be seen-that upon rotation of the stub-shaft 25, the desired movement will be imparted to the plow structure, rotating the plates 20, and causing the blades to operate so as to throw the snow to the side of the road-or highway. While, in the drawings, I have shown a combustion engine 28, as furnishing the power to drive the rotary plow structure, it is to be appreciated that I am not limited to this particular means and that electricity or other medium may be employed, if it is so desired.

With a view of providing means to move thereof, I provide a rear frame or support' ing structure 30, which is carried upon an axle 31 and the axle 31 is in turn supported by means of wheels 32. A bar 33 extends forwardly of the frame 30, and is passed through a U-shaped bracket 34 of the platform 10. The bar 33 carries a cross head 35, which is in turn equipped with suitable whifiietrees 36, which enables the operator to use draft animals to propel the plow structure.

Adjacent the forward end, the bar 33 has provided thereon side pieces 37 and 38, as at 39, the side pieces passing through'the U-bracket 34 of the platform 10 and pivotally connected with the said bracket .by means of a horizontal pin 40; the pin 40 also passes through a block 41 carried between the side pieces 37 and 38, clearly shown in Fig. 3. Y

I further equip the frame with a vertical standard 42 which has a segmental rack 43 provided thereon as illustrated in Fig. 2. An actuating lever is pivotally mounted on the standard as at 45, and has a pawl 46 cotiperating with the rack 43. The pawl 46 is operated by means of the pivoted link 47 the link being mounted in proximity to the hand grip of the operating lever 44,

asis obvious. At its lower free end the operating lever 44 carries another link 48 as at 49, this said link serving a purpose which will hereinafter be'made apparent. A rearwardly directed pipe 50 is telescopically mounted on the driven shaft 17, above the bar 33 and carries at its rear end, a bracket 51 that has a ring 52 receiving the standard 42. The link 48 is pivotally connected with the depending ear 53 of bracket 51, as at 54, thereby movement of the operating le ver will cause the adjustment of the pipe 50 and the consequent movement of the platform 10.

In conjunction'with the above, I also provide improved means whereby the proper guiding of the plow may be effected. In carrying this into effect, I provide the main axle 11 with stub-axles 11, the latter in turn carrying rearwardly directed arms 12. A link 13 is then provided to loosely connect the arms just referred to and means are further provided to actuate-the link and thereby eifect the uniform adjustment of the stub-axles and the supporting wheels 12 and 13 carried thereby.

A bracket 14 is mounted on the underside ofthe platform 10 and pivotall'y supports an operating lever 15 as at 16. One end of the lever is provided with a slot 17 that receives a pin 18 of the cross link 13, while the other end is provided with a hand grip 19 whereby it may be conveniently manipulated. From the above it will be l ssee readily seen that the shifting of the free end of the lever 15 causes lateral movement of the link 13 and the consequent uniform adjustment of the supporting wheels of the p ow.

The operation of my device is as follows When the parts are arranged as in Fig. 2, the plow structure may be rotated in the desired manner, but if for any reason the operator desires to raise the plow structure, the pawl 46 is first drawn from the segmental rack 43 and the raising of the free end of the operating lever 44 will cause the downward movement of the rear end of the pipe 50, and the consequent tilting of the platform 10. The platform 10, tilting rearwardly causes the upward movement of the plow structure, while it will be noted that ent movement of the front and rear frames the platform forwardly.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be understood, and therefore, further detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing the invention to practice, it will be found that the form herein referred to as the most practical and preferred embodiment is the most eificient, but in concurrence with the adoption of the device, it is emphasized that various minor changes in the details of construction and in the proportion of parts may be resorted to when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1'. In a device of the character described a carriage having a forward truck including a platform and an axle pivotally mounting the platform, and a rear truck havin, a tongue pivotally connected with the p atform of the forward truck, a rotatable operating element havinga supporting shaft rotatably mounted in bearings upon said platform, a standard carried by said rear carriage, a lever shaft in telescoping engagement with the supporting shaft and having a handle element at its rear end slidable upon the standard, and means to releasably hold the handle element in an adjusted position upon the standard.

2. In a device of the character described, a carriage having a forward truck including a pivoted platform and a rear truck having a forwardly extending tongue pivotally connected with the platform, an operating element having a shaft rotatably connected with the platform, a standard extending above the rear truck, a lever shaft slidably engaging the first mentioned shaft and having a handle element slidable upon said standard, an adjusting lever pivoted to said standard, and a link connectlng the adjusting lever with the handle element of the 1G lever shaft. In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. ERWIN. 

